Having been induced to grow a short beard for the first time in my life (by a party who apparently likes her men bearded), I often catch myself at a new mannerism: when thinking on something or just woolgathering, I put the index finger of my right hand to my chin and with the thumb stroke the beard underside the chin.

Not annoying, unless it's being done by someone I find generally annoying for other reasons.

I usually have a beard and stroke it when I'm thinking. But when I go clean-shaven, I still stroke my chin.

For the strokers, what is your stroking style? I typically use my thumb and first two fingers. Right hand goes to mouth, thumb at the right corner of the lips, index finger just above the top lip, and second finger just below the bottom. Then I move my fingers across my mouth, keeping my thumb in place, as though I'm curling my fingers into a fist. Thus I stroke my moustache and chin in one sweeping movement and wind up with my chin resting contemplatively on my fist. I never paid attention to how I did it before this thread

I am male, bearded, beard-stroking - do not consider it annoying in others, BUT...

I consider it extremely annoying when I do it, myself. And I do it CONSTANTLY. It also annoys several of my oldest friends, one of whom will reach over and grab my hand mid-stroke to make the. Incessant. Beard stroking. Stop.

Beard stroker, not too often I hope. Technique: first section of left index finger is across mouth at 45 degree angle, tips of left fingers stroking right cheek. I mean not to do it and wonder if it is annoying. Poll results so far mostly reassuring.

It's just weird having a second scalp on the bottom half of my head, but I break out horribly when I shave. I'm the contemplative sort anyway, but wasn't trying to enhance the image.

I am male, (usually) clean shaven, and I consider it somewhat annoying when a certain co-worker does this because he's a pompous ass who strokes his beard when he goes into his fake "thoughtful mode" when it's time to make a Big Decision.

Generally speaking, though, beard stroking doesn't annoy me. After all, I used to have extremely long hair and I was always absent-mindedly twirling my finger in it or otherwise fiddling with my locks. I figure beard stroking is more or less the same thing.

Male, bearded. I stroke my beard when I'm thinking, using my left thumb and forefinger sorta slide along either side of my chin, coming together at the chin cleft. I can't stand it if my wife strokes my beard, feels very alien to me.

Male, bearded. I stroke my beard when I'm thinking, using my left thumb and forefinger sorta slide along either side of my chin, coming together at the chin cleft. I can't stand it if my wife strokes my beard, feels very alien to me.

Same method of stroking here*. I also had a girlfriend a few years back who would sometimes stroke my chin when we were curled up on the sofa. Always stroked the left side though... Then one day I found out why. She was waiting for the chance to pluck the single white hair that was groing there**.

*That just sounds soooo wrong.
**These days she'd have a lot more options to pluck.

I have a very full red beard. I don't because a year before I grew mine, I knew a guy with a sizable beard who did it in a real showy way and it struck me as kinda gross. I've never been tempted as a result. I don't mind seeing others do it. This guy just had a hippie hygiene vibe.

The motion of beard-stroking (heh, that sounds dirty) doesn't bother me. It's the sound that makes me nuts. Some don't make any noise and so don't bother me at all, but some have rough hair or something, and there's a sound it makes that makes me stabby.